The Curriculum

A Strategic Approach to Student Engagement

Sports For Learning creates programs for children that integrate STEM, PBIS and Soccer. Our STEM & Soccer programs increase and encourage physical activity (aligned with public school physical activity standards), incentivize attendance, introduce new skills, and build character. As a company, we value “fun” as an important aspect of learning. Through play and learning we create memorable experiences and instill the values of academics, sports and teamwork.

Our programs have been developed in collaboration with experts in STEM, Next Generation Science Standards, and the PBIS disciplinary framework.

Further, we regularly conduct surveys through a research firm to measure outcomes and impact of our STEM+ athletics programming, allowing us to maintain strict quality control while continuing to refine our methodology.

Soccer, STEM, and PBIS- the winning combination

“Sports For Learning is such a wonderful experience for the students; they can not wait for their soccer coach to get here. Their behaviors, inclusively, have been much better because they look forward to having their soccer.”

- Janet Medina

After School Coordinator at Lamont Elementary, Lamont School District

“I like this program a lot for my middle school. They always come with great games for the students to play, and they incorporate STEM but not in a traditional sit-down way.”

- Nicholas Tillman

Levelland Middle School, Levelland ISD, TX

“The program is supportive of our PBIS implementation and decreases our incidents at lunch recess.”

- Amy Chavez

Vice Principal at Anna Kyle Elementary, Fairfield Unified, CA

“Concepts from the STEM subjects seem to pair up well with soccer drills. It’s a very good experience that the students really enjoy.”

Storyline

Each game will have an exciting theme that will ignite a student’s imagination in order to enhance their learning, e.g. “Jurassic Park.”

Curiosity

Questions: Coaches begin each lesson with the curiosity question of the day. This sparks a student’s creativity, as they provide answers in return for points, e.g. “What is gravity and how does it affect us?”

Trigger words

Coaches will ask students two “trigger word” questions. Using a portable white-board paddle as a visual aid, the coach will remind students of these trigger word answers throughout the game.

Collecting & Assessing Data

We use our research tool to collect and assess learning outcomes.

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports

Sports For Learning’s approach is based on appreciation for the values instilled through sport. PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports)–is an effective disciplinary framework that uses positive reinforcements to support students socially, emotionally, and academically. It is integral to providing kids an environment where they don’t want to misbehave.

Through our implementation of this framework, our coaches have been able to decrease disciplinary referrals in some districts by up to 79%.

“The result of the programs throughout the school has been a decrease in disciplinary issues and an increase in attendance…In the short time the program has been in use, the combination of the extended learning time and soccer has changed the overall mood at lunch time.

Sports For Learning’s curriculum-based games include specific school values and behavior goals. We work with each school and district to ensure our activities incorporate the school’s PBIS framework by:

Adopting school values

We work with school staff to identify the top two values that are currently part of the school’s PBIS framework.

Implementing school values

Using portable white-board paddles as a visual aids, our coaches implement and reinforce values out on the field

Creating acknowledgement system

Students and the teams are rewarded with points and the school’s incentive tokens (e.g. Dino dollars) for exhibiting good behavior.

Providing feedback

The students receive immediate, corrective feedback on the field. When necessary, this is shared with teachers or the principal for additional reinforcement.

Collecting and Assessing Data

Sports For Learning works with schools to record disciplinary referrals logged before, during and after implementation of our lunch recess programs, to document the impact of the Sports For Learning programs.

Students will learn fun soccer skills.

At most of the schools where Sports For Learning operates, soccer is the most popular sport. Students will:

Play fun games at every session. Our games are age-appropriate, inclusive and fun.

Learn the techniques of how to pass, dribble and shoot. This will set them up for soccer success.

Play in awesome World Cup scrimmages where teams are named from different countries around the world.